Tool for slitting casings



J. G. WARNER. TOOL. FOR SLITTING CASINGS.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1921.

Patented June 6, 1922.

g 7 Jaw/11W atto'znelgd v PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. WARNER, OF WEST UNION, WEST VIRGINIA.

TOOL FOR SLITTING CLASINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922.

Application filed September 20, 1321. Serial No. 502,941.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. WARNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Union, in the county of Doddridge and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Tool for Slitting Casings. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tool designed primarily for slitting well casings where they are connected to the couplings so that should a casing become hung within a well, it

1 becomes possible by slittingthe casing in one of the couplings abovethe point wherethe casing is held, to withdrawthat portion of the casing above the slitted-po'rtion' A further object is to provide a tool of this character which can be adjusted so' as to form slits in casings of difierent'thicknesses without mutilating, to an objectionable extent the threads in the collar into which the casing extends.

' A further object is to provide a tool which, when connected to jars can be hammered up wardly into the lower end of the casing engaged thereby soas to plough through the metal and allow the threaded end to con tract and thus become disengaged from'the threaded collar.

A further object is to provide means whereby the cutting members can be automatically locked in inactive or retracted positions after the completion of the cutting operation, thus to permit the tool to be with drawn readily from the casing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description 'proceeds,*the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the I precise embodiment of the invention shown 'can be made without departing from the reference 1 designates the body of the tool having a tapered threaded coupling stem '2 at one end while extending from its other end is a cylindrical stem 3 the free end portion of which is screw threaded as shown at 4 and is provided with a longitudinal slot 5.

. On this stem is slidably mounted a collar 6 and a spring 7, which surrounds the stem 3. serves to hold the collar normally pressed against a shoulder 8 formed at the upper end of the stem. This spring bears at one end against the collar and at its other end extends into a counterbore 9 formed in a cap 10 which is screwed onto the threaded poi tion of the stem 3 and has its free end roundcd to a point 11. A threaded bore 12 extends into the cap for the reception of the stem 3 and by turning the cap on the stem it can thus 'be adjusted longitudinally thereof.

After the cap has been brought to a desired position a pin or key 13 can be inserted therethrough and through the slot 5. A latch 14 is pivotally mounted in a groove 15 formed longitudinally in the stem 3 and a spring 16 serves to hold the latch normally projected at one end so as to fasten the collar 6 against the shoulder 8.

Diametrically opposed portions of the body 1 are cut away to form upwardly converging flat faces 17 extending from the shoulder 8. Each of these faces is provided with a longitudinal dove-tailed groove'lS. Mounted on each face is a jaw 19 having a longitudinally extending; dove-tail 2O adapted to slide within the adjacent groove 18.

A. dove-tailed groove 21 is extended downwardly into the outer face of each jaw 19 from the upper end thereof and is adapted to receive a dove-tailed block 22 constituting a cutter an d provided with an outstand+ ing portion 23 formed with a cutting edge 24. Rivets 25 or the like can be extended through the upper ends of these blocks and into the jaws 19 so to hold the cutters against accidental separation from the jaws. It will be noted that the blocks completely fill the dove-tail grooves and bear downwardly against the lower end walls of the grooves as shown in Figure 2.

Under normal conditions the collar 6 is pressed against the shoulder 8 by spring 7 be raised readily from the casino.

opposed cutters are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the internal diameter of the casing C to be cut. in other words the diameter through the cutting portions of: the cutters is substantially equal to or slightly less than the greatest diameter of the body 1.

When it is desired to remove a section of casing the collar 6 is drawn downwardly against the action of spring '7 after the latch 14 has been pressed inwardly. It is preferred to adjust the cap 10 on the stem 3 prior to this operation so as to permit only a predetermined movement of the collar. After the collar has been moved downwardly against the cap slender sticks of wood or the like indicated at 27 can be inserted between the collar and the shoulder 8. The jaws 19 will gravitate so as to rest on the collar and as the faces-17 are inclined the jaws will be moved apart so as to project the cutting edges laterally a distance equal to the thickness of the wall. of the asing; to he cut. The tool is attached to of ordinary construction and is then lowered into the casing. The drag or": the cutting; blocks on the inner surface of the casing); will. he Sullicient to keep the jaws 19 close to the shoulders 26 during; the descent of the tool. When the tool is brought to a level. close to but above the point where it is desired to disconnect the casing sections it is pulled upwardly s owly so that when the cutting edges 24 arrive opposite the space between the casing setions C and within the coupling C they will move outward by the gravitation of the jaws l9 on the inclined tacos 17. Thus the cutting blocks will he brought to the posit-ions shown in Figure By now moving the jars upwardly the tool can be subjected to successive upward impacts or hammering strok-s with the result that the cutting edoges 24 will plough into the lower edge of the casing section thereahove and will slit said'section longitudinally to a point above the coupling.

By now reversing" the stroke ol the jars the tool can be driven downwardlyabruptly the force being sutlicient to crush or break the spacing pieces .27 and allow the shoulder 8 to move downwardly against the collar 6 whereupon the latch 14 will fasten the col-- lar. Thus the jaws 19 will be held against the shoulders 26 and the cuttiuedges 24 will be held retracted from the slits produced-thereby. Consequentlythe tool can By then pulling upwardly on the casing; theslitted portion thereofwill contact out of engagement with'the threads in that portion of the collar surrounding'the same and the casing can thus he pulled upwardly out of thewell, leaving that portionlocated below the coupling; from which the withdrawn casing was removed.

It is to be understood that the tool can be made of different sizes so as to work within casings of different sizes. Instead of providing the tool withtwo flat faces and a slidingjaw on each Face. it can be provided with three. four or more itaces each carrying a sliding jaw on which is located a cutter.

It will be noted that the cutters are removable so that new ones can be placed in position in event of I excessive wear -or breakage.

Ordinarily the spacingmembers 27' will be released and will fall from their posi t ons when the cutting devices are brought against the lower end of the casing to be slittcd but it is desirable'to make the spacin devices of wood or other frangible material so that they can be easily crushed or broken should they tail to become unse'ated. I

What is claimed is lfThe combination with a hodyhaving upwardly converging facesyot' jaws slidably mounted on said faces. cutting members carried bv the jaws. yieldingly supported means for holding the aws normally elevatedwith the cutting members retracted towardeach other. and t'rangible means insertible between said means and the body for releasin; the. jaws to gravitate and shift the'cutting members radially from each other.

2. The combination 'with a 'body'having converging faces. a stem. anda cap adjustable upon the stem. of a collarslidable'on the stem. and limited in its movement inopposite directions by the body and cap respeotively. yielding means for holding-the collar normally positioned against the body,

\ means for automatically fastening: the collar in normal position. jaws slidably mounted on the converging faces. said jaws being" held normally against movement by the collar. and cuttino" means upon the jaws.

3. The combination with a body. convergins! tacos thereon, a stem.'and a cap adjustably mounted on the stenmof jaws 'slidably mounted on the faces. a'yieldingly heldcollar upon the stem forholding the jaws'normally raised. cutting members upon "the jaws normally retracted toward each other, and a latch for automatically tastening'the collar in normal position said= collarbeing shittableagainst the cap to receive afitran-gible spacing elementihetweeni the collar-and body. said jaws being :a-daptedto grravitate' against the collar when spaced from the body. thereby to shift the cutting members radially from each other.v

4. Thecombination with a body having upwardly converging faces and a stem, of a cap adjustably mounted on the stemyai yieldingly held collar slidable'on the stem between the body and cap, and normally pressed against the body, a latch :for auto- =matically fasteningthe collar-against the body, jaws slidable upon the converging my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature faces and supported 13%; the collaghand dein the presence of two Witnesses. tacha e cuttinv mem ers u on t e jaws, 1 7 said collar bein g shiftable againstthe cap JAMES WARNER 5 for the reception of a frangible spacing ele- Witnesses:

ment between the collar and the body. IRY E. SIMPSON,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as AGNES Room. 

